••Personal Student•• Matty Healy

Three

I'm instantly taken back once inside. Walking through the glass doors, straight into the reception area, it's massive! I take everything in, feeling like I'm suddenly in some movie here, or music video. And stand, waiting to be noticed and acknowledged.

"Good morning, what can I help you with today?" The woman behind the huge desk quickly greets me with a seemingly forced smile. Probably because as I stand here, wearing blue ripped jeans, a baggy Nirvarna T-shirt and dirt muck vans, I evidently look like I've just dashed in here in desperate need of using their bathroom.

"Um, yeah. Hi, I'm Arlo Arundel, and I'm here to do work experience.... stuff, with Mr Oborne" I eventually decide to shut up, when I can sense she just wants to laugh at me.

Work experience... stuff. Jesus Arlo! I wouldn't blame her if she damn right just laughed out in my face.

If truth be told, I hadn't even been told what this work experience even entailed. Who I'd actually be working with. The hours. The only thing I was told was that it was for 12 weeks, I'd get to travel a lot, and that I'd get some kind of a wage each week from this.... so happy days.

Luckily, she knew what I was talking about and knew I'd be showing up here today. She ventures from behind the huge wooden desks and asks to grab my bag to keep safe with her. And before I even have chance to accept or decline, she's picking up my bag, weirdly without a struggle too with the weight of it, and plonks it out of view.

"Follow me" she instructs, giving passers by and business looking folk nods of greeting and acknowledgement as I scurry to keep up behind her, like a lost puppy.

"So, you excited to be joining our team for the summer, Miss...." she waits, giving me a quick look over her shoulder for me to fill in, not remembering my name.

"Just call me Arlo"

Her frown has me silently scoffing to myself..... if I had a penny every time someone pulled a face or frowned at my name. Well, I'd be close to having about 4 million, the same amount my parents won last year.

"Well, Arlo. Here we are" she states. Knocking twice on a door we gathered behind.

"Come in!"

She pushes at the door, as instructed, allowing me to go before her. I nervously step ahead, dropping my head in nerves.

"Hey," she whispers as I pass her, still holding the door open. "Don't be so scared, he's not as scary as he looks" she smiles. I nod. Wishing my brain would believe that. Why was I always such a nervous, anxious wreck in new situations? "And by the way, cool name"

"Thanks" I smile back, watching as she leaves and closes the door after her.

"Arlo..... a pleasure to see you again" Jamie says, now standing from his desk. I turn, having been just stood looking at the door that the reception girl left from mere seconds ago.

But on turning to face him, I'm pleasantly surprised to find, along with me, Mr Oborne stands here in casual clothes too. Instantly I relax a little. Bit more at ease.

"Please, take a seat" he offers, walking round his desk, with his foot, he pushes out a chair that glides across the carpet and stops dead in front of me.... ok. Pretty cool.

"How you feeling?" He asks the second i sit.

I shrug, taking a look around and instantly noticing my favourite people on a huge picture frame on the wall.

Shit. I'm smiling.

"Which is your favourite? Don't tell me...." he teases, and looks up as though he's thinking about it. But we both know my dad blabbed so he knows in fact, who I like. "Your secrets safe with me" he leans forward, tapping his nose.

This office was practically just as big as the reception area. I sit in the chair, still not knowing what to say, I didn't know what I was meant to be doing here, so I just sat awkwardly, picking at my nails. Waiting on instructions?

"Alrighty, so let's get started. As you know, I'm Mr Oborne. Call me Jamie" ok... I was expecting some kind of business meeting. Do's and don'ts. My own goals. Not a general chit chat.

"So I'm the one you will be working alongside. I mean, at the minute...." he pulls a wincing face. "I don't really have much work for you to do. Your dad called in a favour and.... sorry" he trails off, apologising before answering his phone.

"Jamie Oborne....." he chants down the phone. But his body swiftly turns, now sat on the edge of his desk, now giving me his back. "She is indeed" he says, his voice a little quieter now. "Can you not at least let her settle in.... I know but.... Matty?!" His voice goes louder on calling someone's name. Jamie flashes me a sort of embarrassed smile, before muttering "ok. Bye then" obviously whoever it was, wasn't willing to stay on the line and had already cut the call. Causing me to hide behind my hand in fear of laughing at Jamie's attempt at playing it cool then, as though he wasn't left to talk to himself at the end.

"Ok, where was I?....."

But the door flies open.

"Hey!" A voice chimes, followed by the door being slammed shut after him, as he rudely interrupts our meeting here.

But it takes all of three seconds to register who, exactly it is, once my eyes land on him. My eyes bulge out in shock and I have to mentally scold myself to drop my eye line and not stare at him. Immediately I'm panicked. Feeling like someone just hit me with a TKO. A low blow. My breathing uneasy.

Just look at the floor Arlo, don't stare.

"Alright?" He chimes, practically bouncing in front of me, seeming beyond cheery. He joins Jamie on the desk in front of me. Arms folded, smiling profusely.

"Nows not a good time-" Jamie attempts to tell him.

"Ah...ah....ah!" Matty holds up a finger, rudely silencing him.

"So what's your name?" He asks, now grinning over in this direction.

Is this a trick? Is this even happening? Is he talking to me for gods sake or not???

His head now tilts to the side, his eyes still on me. But he's now looking at me as though he's puzzling something together in his head. Working something out.

"She's a little nervous, Matty. Can we do this some other time" I hear Jamie quietly tell him.

But then it hits. Your dream, is coming true, Arlo. Your crush, is standing right in front of you, talking to you, and you're here... FROZEN LIKE A DAMN DEER IN HEAD LIGHTS. Talk to him for Christ sake!!!!!

"Hey, um... hi" I mutter. Still unable to move my eye line from the floor.

"Ah. She speaks" Matty jokes. But before I've had chance for my head to catch up with everything, he's quickly headed straight for me, my hand is grabbed and we're suddenly heading for the door.

"Don't wait up!" He yells back to Jamie.

"Look after her!" Jamie shouts back.

....... since when was this part of the job description..... not that I'm complaining. Least I don't think.....